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CoroCoro Comic manga sparks protest with Genghis Khan penis image
The heyday of manga magazines is over, so it takes something for a controversy about a mainstream comic to make the headlines. That is what has happened with Shogakukan’s monthly manga magazine,...
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Piko Taro teams up with Momoiro Clover Z for vegetable-themed song and music...
Does Piko Taro have another hit on his hands? Nearly a million views seems to suggest so. The “Pen-Pineapple-Apple-Pen” creator has recently launched a new song on YouTube, this time significantly...
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Tokyo 2020 Olympics official mascots announced
The two official mascots for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo have been announced. The winning pair are designed by character designer and illustrator Ryo Taniguchi, who was born in 1974....
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Chanel opens Coco game center arcade in Shibuya, Tokyo
Global cosmetics giant Chanel has opened a branded Coco game center in Shibuya ward, Tokyo. Open from March 2nd to March 11th in Case B in Jingumae, near Omotesando and Harajuku, the ground floor of...
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Puccho A-n 4D Goggles robotic headset is virtual reality experience of cute...
Augmented reality. 3D. Virtual reality. What next? 4D. Japanese candy brand Puccho is determined to lead the pack in the 4D revolution, it seems, judging by its creation of these “4D goggles.” The...
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Yamaha and Hakuhodo i-studio team up for artificial intelligence music...
Designed to bring out the potential of any player and instrument, Duet with Yoo is an experiential, co-performance installation by Hakuhodo i-studio that uses the Yamaha AI Music Ensemble System. It...
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The Idolmaster Cinderella Girls Danbocchi Soundproof Booth is private lair...
Japan has developed something of a reputation for accommodating solo activities: from karaoke for one to Korean BBQ, noodles restaurants like Ichiran, and even a Moomins cafe, there’s a service or...
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Tokyo subway gets into cherry blossom viewing mood with Ginza Line Sakura Train
Spring has arrived in Tokyo, bringing with it sunny and warm days, blustery winds and their accompanying first bouts of pollen allergies, and a wealth of spring-related foods and other products. This...
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Glico commercial uses 72 actresses to chart lifespan of a woman
Leading Japanese confectionery brand Glico has created what will surely be one of the best commercials of the year. Using 72 actresses of different ages, it charts a single woman’s life. The...
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Hello Kitty Shinkansen bullet train to run in west Japan this summer
JR West has announced that a special Hello Kitty version of the Shinkansen bullet train will be in operation this summer. Sanrio’s immensely popular cat character will decorate a 500 Series Shinkansen...
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Traditional Noh theater sushi restaurant opens in Tokyo
Suigian is a new sushi restaurant in central Tokyo that combines classical performing arts with some of the finest dining the city has to offer. Opening March 20th in Nihonbashi, the lunch and dinner...
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Meet COLORFUUUL, Japan’s first all-foreign male idol music group
“Diversity” is a popular buzzword in Japan right now. All eyes are on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics that the media and government policy-makers think will be a game-changer of sorts. Tokyo will, albeit...
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Watch two samurai warriors with jet packs fight in midair
Two things people readily associate with Japan are elements of history (especially samurai) and technology (particularly, at least more recently, somewhat wacky examples). These two are present in...
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New Makita coffee maker runs on power tool batteries
From sophisticated wooden coffee mills to robotic baristas, latte art, and green tea espresso machines, the Japanese coffee industry always seems to offer something new and interesting. And now there’s...
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Celebrate the arrival of the spring cherry blossom indoors with virtual hanami
Every spring, as Japan comes alive with the arrival of the cherry blossom (sakura) across the archipelago, the cherry blossom viewing parties (hanami) rapidly take over all the parks and an ancillary...
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Pepsi creates J-Cola beverage exclusively for Japanese market
Coca-Cola made a splash in Japan recently with its exclusive beverges inspired by local tastes and ingredients. The Coca-Cola Sakura Cherry Blossom Spring 2018 Design, Coca-Cola Plus health drink, and...
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BonsAI is smart bonsai plant integrated with artificial intelligence technology
It seems that no aspect of culture is safe from the reaches of artificial intelligence these days, so perhaps it was only a matter of time before the technological revolution caught up with bonsai. The...
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Women asked to leave sumo ring while helping collapsed mayor
People in Japan and around the world have reacted with incredulity at the news that women performing emergency first aid were ordered to leave a sumo ring. The mayor of Maizuru, Ryozo Tatami, collapsed...
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Designed by Kengo Kuma, Ace Hotel Kyoto to open at historical ShinPuhKan...
The American chain Ace Hotel will open its first branch in Japan with a stunning new hotel, designed by Kengo Kuma and located on the site of the ShinPuhKan mall in central Kyoto. “A friendly place,...
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#MeToo in Japan: Iconic erotic photographer Nobuyoshi Araki accused by model...
The prolific and award-winning photographer Nobuyoshi Araki has become one of the first major cultural figures in Japan to become embroiled in the MeToo movement. KaoRi, who was once frequently named...
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